House: Dr. Lawrence Kutner Remembered
April 7, 2009 by Lynn
Even though I’m happy for Kal Penn and his new and exciting opportunity, I will miss Kutner on House. Of the three new team members, he was far and away my favorite. He brought a childlike sense of fun and humor to the team and it will be missed.
We first became acquainted with Kutner during the candidate elimination process of season 4. He started the process with the assigned number #6 and when he was fired, he came back with the number turned upside down and said that #6 had been fired, he was #9. I liked him instantly!
He was the team member who asked House to let the team do Secret Santa. And even when he found out that House was playing them against each other, he bought House a great gift to try to get on his good side.
Here’s the FOX Kutner Tribute Video:
Kutner always tried to see the patients and the diagnoses in an optimistic way, which makes the suicide of the character all the more shocking. And having had a close family member commit suicide, I know that it is never really expected…
I think the fact that the character went out this way might serve a bit to help people understand how depression and suicide can manifest and even more about how it damages and hurts all the people left behind. Once again, House is teaching us about a medical illness we could all stand to learn more about. And Kutner was the instrument with which they chose to do it. Bravo!
In Simple Explanation, we found out that Kutner had a girlfriend, a close and loving adopted family and that his birth name had been Lawrence Chowdry. The revelation of his apartment, with the comic book-esque memorabilia all around just confirmed what we all thought his home would be like. We found out that he had friends that the team knew nothing about. It was a complete surprise to find that the character we all thought we had a bit of a handle on, was actually a complete mystery to everyone.
But in spite of it all, Kutner remains my favorite of the new team members and I will miss him on the show.
What are your thoughts about the character of Kutner? Did you like him? Will you miss him? Or was the character not that important to you? Whatever your thoughts, I would like to hear them and know others would too. Let’s all share our thoughts about the character and enjoy the memory of the short time he was on the show.
HOUSE supports the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and in conjunction with the show’s support, fans can purchase a “House-ism” t-shirt (with proceeds benefiting NAMI) at the NAMI web site. For information about mental health issues or for more information about NAMI, please visit the NAMI web site.
I think i speak for most of us house fans when i say WE WILL MISS YOU KUTNER!!!
I really enjoyed Dr. Kutner and I think he added a nice touch of humor and kindness to the show. Too bad for House fans but a really great opportunity for Kal Penn. All the best to him!!
tribute video was pretty cool
Kutner was by far the most realistic of the “newbies”. He will be missed a lot by my girls, who love the show, and myself. It proves to be a great season-ending next few episodes!
awh! i cnt believe kunter died!!!
i miss him!
but its cool that in real life he’s going to work with obama!
I have to say that this episode was moving and disturbing. I felt as though I were right there with House in my need to know WHY someone would do that to themselves. I’ll miss Kal Penn immensely on “House” and I wish him the best of luck!
I really liked Kutner and although I was expecting him to be the one that commits suicide, I was still unnerved by it. At least it was Kal Penn’s own decision to leave the show.
That memorial page is just creepy and weird.
I really like Kal Penn’s work as an actor, and will truly miss his character on the show! I wish he had not been killed off, though, so that he could come back later if he chose to, as cameo’s or whatever. I appreciate the fact that it is bringing suicide to the public consciousness, I just wish it had not been Kutner. I miss him already! The character brought alot of a fun personality to the team. I wish him all the best in his new political “role”, and hope he does well in the future. (I agree that the memorial, though, is a little weird)
I’M REALLY GOING TO MISS HIM. I THINK THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE KILLED HIM OFF INCASE HE WANTED TO COME BACK. HE BROUGHT SO MUCH HUMOR AND LIFE TO THE SHOW. I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY KILLED HIM OFF LIKE THAT. SHAME SHAME..
I’m thinking back to the death cat episode and remember that cat spent lots of time around Kutner – and came to him . . . . a little intentional foreshadowing? I thought that was really funny when kutner ate his pistol . . .